Official: Jimmy Bell passes on

[compo 7,229]

Tragic news the world's lost a very nice person, my thoughts are with his family. 

[Tannochsidebear 2,429]

Sad news about our fellow fan, bus driver turned kit man Jimmy Bell's death. Always quietly going about his business in the background, a trusted confidant to many over the decades, and a terrible shock and loss to his family at the far too young age of just 57.

 

I dont go as far as to say legend, that's ridiculous, but he will be sorely missed by the players and staff at the club. Hopefully we can use the grief as an inspiration to get a win on Thursday and make a Euro final. As a bluenose just like all of us, it is absolutely what Jimmy would have wanted.

 

 

[26th of foot 6,119]

I met Jimmy once.

 

It was December 2004, we were in the Netherlands to play AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Cup. My wife and I traveled to Amsterdam, booked in for 4 days with intent to do our Christmas shopping and, take in the game. Alkmaar is an old cheese town and most pretty. I journeyed through to Alkmaar the day before the game, hoping to pick up a pair of tickets, no joy at either Club shop or ticket office. The wife suggested I concentrate on securing a brief for myself. The game day, I took the train from Amsterdam central and began asking everyone for a spare?

 

Two and a half hours before kick-off, I was outside the ground continuing to plead? A large mini-bus pitched up and Jimmy Bell jumped out. He went to the back and began to unload half-a-dozen hampers. There was a barbed wire adorned gate between jimmy/kit and the allocated changing room. He was handed a set of keys by a police officer who then joined three colleagues at the gate. I do not wear colours to the game, in fact I was wearing a Barbour jacket. I moved forward and grabbed an end of a hamper.

 

Jimmy locked the bus and seamlessly returned to pick up the other hamper end. We went through the gate, repeating the process another several times. Whilst putting the hampers into the changing room he asked, "do you have a ticket"? He took fifteen minutes to empty the cases then took me to a small adjoined Port-a-Kabin, we put the empties inside and instructed me to sit on the floor and, he would return to let me out in a couple of hours. I offered a thanks.

 

I saw us lose 1-0.

 

I suspect Jimmy helped out a fair number of Bears over the decades?

[the gunslinger 3,366]

turns out he was 69 i think. 

 

 

[rbr 1,267]

Absolute gentleman , Huge loss to the club .

[MacK1950 2,399]

1 hour ago, the gunslinger said:

turns out he was 69 i think. 

 

 

Most reports say he was 57.

[BEARGER 1,830]

1 hour ago, the gunslinger said:

turns out he was 69 i think. 

 

 

You’re correct, in his 70th year.

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,809]

Been busy all day so have missed this story. What a truly sad loss for the club. Thoughts to all who knew him and his family. RIP Jimmy. 

[alexscottislegend 2,378]

7 hours ago, Frankie said:

Jimmy Bell wasn't a Rangers player.

 

He didn't score important goals or save penalties. Neither did he invest millions or lead the club in the business world.

 

But, through a fantastic personality and in his daily dealings with hundreds of players of all creeds and colours he dies a legend. 

 

RIP.

You couldn't have put it better Frankie.

[ian1964 10,761]